In the midst of leading the Averill Park girls' basketball team to three straight appearances in the Class A state final, Sean Organ was completely uncertain of what his future held as coach at the end of each season.

From 2009-10 through 2011-12, the school district was weighing budget cuts each year and it appeared Organ, a social studies teacher, may be one of those let go.

It was not the first time he had dealt with it, either.

"It was of nobody's control. It was the state of the economy at that time," Organ said. "I wasn't the only teacher here experiencing that."

When the 2012-13 scholastic year began, Organ was still working at Averill Park and the Warriors have continued to add to the program's rich history under his tutelage ever since.

Saturday, Averill Park beat Niskayuna 62-31 to win its tip-off tournament — which also happened to be milestone victory for Organ as he collected his 200th career win.

"Every day I walk into that building, I walk in with a smile on my face," Organ said. "Don't get me wrong. Some days are better than others. I come in there with a sense that I am very fortunate, first and foremost, to be able to teach kids about social studies. I tell my students all the time that, hopefully, when they walk out of my classroom in June they are better people than when they arrived in September."

All of the players Organ has mentored during his time leading the Warriors feel much better off for the experience. Prior to his arrival, Averill Park had never won a Section II girls' basketball title. Since 2006, the Warirors have claimed nine Section II Class A titles. Averill Park (2-0) is looking to capture a fifth straight championship this season.

Organ guided the 2009-10 squad to a 26-1 record that included the program's first New York State Public High School Athletic Association title and a Federation Tournament of champions crown. In fact, the Warriors are the last Section II girls' squad to claim a Federation title.

The following season, Averill Park entered the sectionals with a 7-11 record as the rigors of the Suburban Council schedule, coupled with massive graduation losses, had Averill Park's chances of repeating as sectional champions looking less than certain.

Averill Park not only won the title, but it also reached the state final and finished 13-12.

"The players we had on the 2010 team were a product of four years on the varsity. The culmination of that was winning the Federation title," Organ said. "The next year, we had a bunch of kids that didn't play that much that were on the (2010) team or they weren't on varsity at all."

The 2011 squad, led by Brooke O'Shea, Bridget Carney and Julia Mai, showed how facing quality Class AA competition all season helped prepare the Warriors for the playoffs.

"Their desire to get better and willingness to learn and work through the ups and downs made that season special," Organ said of the 2011 team. "We got hot at the right time."

Organ is delighted he has remained at Averill Park doing two things he loves so much: teaching and coaching.

"I have been so fortunate in two different ways. I have been able to work with great kids," Organ said. "Meghan O'Shea, who really was the leader of the (2006) team. Fast forward to 2010 with Katie Duma, Brittany O'Shea and so many other kids who accepted their roles and now with our current team. They have bought into the history of the program.

"The other thing is every step of the way, I've had a great coaching staff. I had Mike Cavotta my first three years before he stepped away to coach his daughters. I've had Scott Keegan, who was the freshman coach, the JV coach and then the varsity assistant. All those assistants have worked so hard for this program. I am just so lucky. I am not being humble, but someone who has been very fortunate to be in the position I am at Averill Park."